Too dull to continue reading, no resonance at all. I just couldn't get into the story. It took me more than ten days to finish the reading, but I finally finished it anyway. I am an obsessive. If I start a book; I have to finish it.

When reading it, I kept thinking Dostoyevsky: how can his novels makes me feel so deeply? I rarely find this characteristic in other writers. Further, his novels have vivid stories, not just prosaic narrative.

Back to this book. This is Munro's second book and her only novel. It's a semi-autobiography and bildungsroman as well, a girl's history from 10 years old to 18 years old. I feel like this is still a short story collection including eight short stories about the same girl.

I don't know what's theme. There are some dramas, like Miss Farris's death, like the Sheriffs family, but mostly is only mundane life. So I guess the theme of this novel is that we have to accept that life is the way it is and there is no escape.

About Munro's writing style, it's obviously not plain and simple, too many big words in her sentences.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars